Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Zanmudeep’

ABSTRACT

A  chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Zanmudeep’ characterized by its large sized blooms with dark purple ray florets and prolific branching, and response time of 8 weeks.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium Ramat.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Zanmudeep’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium Ramat., and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar denomination ‘Zanmudeep’. ‘Zanmudeep’ is a product of a breeding and selection program for pot mums which had the objective of creating new cultivars with a double type inflorescence, a 8 weeks response time and a medium plant height. ‘Zanmudeep’ is a seedling resulting from a cross of the female parent id 45927 with the male parent id 44279. Plants of the new cultivar ‘Zanmudeep’ differ from plants of the female parent in inflorescence color. The female parent has pink inflorescences, while those of ‘Zanmudeep’ are dark purple. Plants of the new cultivar ‘Zanmudeep’ differ from plants of the male parent in the following characteristics. (1) Plant vigor. And (2) Inflorescence size. (1). Plants of the male parent are less vigorous than those of ‘Zanmudeep’. (2) Inflorescences of the male parent are smaller than those of ‘Zanmudeep’.

The new and distinct cultivar was discovered and selected as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by Wilhelmus Bernardus Blom in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in April 2004. The first act of asexual production of ‘Zanmudeep’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were used from the initial selection in June 2004 and propagated further in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. The new cultivar has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations, although the phenotype may somewhat vary with variations in environment such as light intensity and temperature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 3 shows the various stages of foliage of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The observations and measurements were gathered in May 2010 from plants grown in a greenhouse in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, in a photo-periodic controlled crop under conditions generally used in commercial practice. Three cuttings were planted in a pot with a diameter of 12 cm. The greenhouse temperatures for this crop were at day-time 18.degree.C. to 25.degree. C., and at night about 20.degree. C. The photo-periodic response time in this crop was 8 weeks after an average of eight long days. After this long day period growth retardants (Alar) were applied six times in an average dose of 1. 5 gram/liter water until flowering. The plants were observed (directly) during the flowering of this crop. No tests were done on disease or insect resistance or susceptibility. No tests were done on cold or drought tolerance. To show the phenotype as described ‘Zanmudeep’ can be planted without assimilation lighting (high pressure sodium lamps) between week 50 and week 40 of the next year under greenhouse conditions in the Netherlands. With assimilation lighting (minimum level 2500 lux) it can be planted all year round under greenhouse conditions in the Netherlands.

This new variety produces potmums with large sized blooms with dark purple ray florets. From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘Zanmudeep’ is ‘Midnight Time’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,056). When ‘Midnight Time’ and ‘Zanmudeep’ are being compared the following difference is noticed: The difference of ‘Midnight Time’ and ‘Zanmudeep’ are the following characteristics. (1) Color of the ray florets. And (2) Response Time. (1) Both plant varieties have dark blooms, but the purple ray florets of ‘Midnight Time’ have a red hue, while those of ‘Zanmudeep’ are more dark purple. (2) The response Time of ‘Midnight Time’ is lower than that of ‘Zanmudeep’.

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Zanmudeep’ as a new and distinct variety.

The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, edition 2001.

TABLE 1 Botanical Description of Chrysanthemum xmorifolium Ramat. ‘Zanmudeep’ Bud Size Medium; cross-section 6 mm, height 4 mm Shape Round Texture Smooth Outside Color Greyed-green 191A Phyllaries Number 16-18, arranged in 3 rows Shape Elliptic Apex Acute Base Truncate Margin Entire Color Upper surface: Greyed-green 191A Lower Surface: Greyed-green 191B Length and width 5 mm; 2 mm Texture Pubescent Inflorescence Type Double Height 2 cm Diameter 6.5 cm Peduncle length 3 cm Peduncle color Green N138B to N138C Peduncle diameter 2 mm Peduncle texture Pubescent Number per branch Approx. 4-5 inflorescences Shelf life 4 weeks Seeds Produced in small quantities, ovate, Greyed-brown 199A, length 1.5 mm, diameter 0.8 mm Fragrance Faint chrysanthemum odor Color Center of inflorescence Immature stage: Red-purple 71A Mature stage: Red-purple 71A Color of upper surface of the Red-purple 71A to 71B ray-florets Color of the lower surface Red-purple 70B of the ray-florets Tonality from Distance A pot mum with dark purple flowers Color of the upper surface Purple N77B of ray-florets after aging of the plant Ray florets Texture Upper and lower side smooth Number 170-180 Shape Elliptic Apex Dentate Base Attenuate Cross-section Concave Longitudinal axis of Straight majority Length of corolla tube 3-5 mm Ray-floret margin Entire Ray-floret length 2-3 cm Ray-floret width 0.4-1 cm Ratio length/width Medium Disc florets Absent Receptacle Color Yellow-green 145D Shape Domed raised Height 3 mm Diameter 1.2 cm Reproductive Organs Androecium Absent Pollen Not produced Gynoecium Present on ray florets Style color Yellow-green 154C Style Length 3 mm Stigma color Yellow 7A Stigma Width 1 mm Ovary Enclosed in calyx Plant Form Upright and free branching Growth rate Medium Height 18 cm Width 24 cm Stem Color Greyed-brown 199A Stem Strength Strong Stem Brittleness Not brittle Stem Anthocyanin Coloration Not observed Internode length 1 cm Length of lateral branch From top to bottom 14 cm Lateral branch color Green 137 C Lateral branch diameter 3 mm Lateral branch, attachment Strong Branching (average number Prolific with 3 breaks after pinching of lateral branches) Response time 8 weeks Foliage Leaf color Upper surface: Green 137A Lower surface: Green N138B Color midvein Upper surface: Yellow-green 147D Lower surface: Yellow-green 148D Size Medium; length 7-8.5 cm, width 4-5 cm Quantity (number per lateral 12 branch) Shape Broadly elliptic Texture upper side Sparsely pubescent Texture under side Pubescent Venation arrangement Palmate Shape of the margin Serrated Shape of Base of Sinus Rounded Between Lateral Lobes Margin of Sinus Between Diverging Lateral Lobes Shape of Base Acute to truncate Apex Mucronulate Petiole length 1-2 cm Petiole diameter 2 mm Petiole color Yellow-green 147D

TABLE 2 Differences with the comparison variety when grown side-to-side ‘Zanmudeep’ ‘Midnight Time’ Color ray florets Red-purple 71A to 71B Red-purple 61B Response time 8 weeks 7 weeks 

1. A new and distinct chrysanthemum plant named ‘Zanmudeep’ as described and illustrated. 